16.05.05 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced today former ring rivals Alexis Arguello and Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor will reunite in Canastota for festivities planned for the 16th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend set for June 9-12th. In 1982 and 1983, the Hall of Famers met in two exciting battles for Pryor’s junior welterweight championship, with Pryor registering kayo wins in the 14th and 10th round respectively..
“Arguello and Pryor engaged in one of boxing’s great ring rivalries,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “Boxing fans always enjoy recalling their two battles with them when they’re here in Canastota.”
A native of Managua, Nicaragua, Arguello held the featherweight, super featherweight, and lightweight titles. Known as “The Explosive Thin Man,” Arguello compiled an 80-8 (64KOs) record that included wins over Ruben Olivares, Ray Mancini, and Bobby Chacon. Arguello was elected to the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.
Boxing out of Cincinnati, OH, Pryor reigned as junior welterweight champion from 1980 to 1985. Pryor’s professional record reads 39-1 (35KOs) and includes wins over Hall of Famers Arguello and Antonio Cervantes. In 1996 he was elected to the Hall of Fame.
The June 9-12th Hall of Fame Induction Weekend will feature over 20 exciting events including a banquet, parade, golf tournament, boxing autograph card show, breakfast, cocktail party, professional boxing show, and the official induction ceremony honoring the Class of 2005. New inductees to be honored are featherweight champion Bobby Chacon, junior welterweight champion Duilio Loi, featherweight champion Barry McGuigan, junior middleweight champion Terry Norris, matchmaker Don Fraser and writer Bert Sugar. Posthumous inductees will also be honored.
Over 50 boxing stars, including Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Ken Norton, Emile Griffith, Angelo Dundee, Leon Spinks, Michael Carbajal, Carlos Ortiz, Alan Minter, and Canastota’s Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus are scheduled to participate in weekend festivities.
For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 16th Annual Induction Weekend please call (315) 697-7095 or visit www.ibhof.com.